Khaleel Mohammed, with whom I exchanged e-mails a short while back, has updated his web page. He has moved a few polemics around and added a couple more into paragraphs. If this was done because of our exchange I have no idea, but his site is still one big piece of argumentation.

The professor, while being good enough to engage in debate, hides behind typical talk of non - Arab speakers "not being able to understand the Qu'ran" and all critics having "their judgement clouded by faith". The irony of this last comment seems lost on him.

Likewise, his talk of "hate" belies the fact that in my case at least, two thousand of my countrymen have been murdered by Islamic militants since 2004. Something would be wrong if we were not angry (not hateful) about execution of farm workers, beheadings of monks and public slayings of teachers. We should be angry and we should look for the source, if the source is a religious book that teaches violence, we should respond peacefully by exposing it.

It would be unfair of me to keep referring to the professor, so this will be the last reminder of our exchange for people to see his words in full and judge for themselves.

Communication with more open and informative people is in progress, it might be a while but stay tuned for some very revealing investigations.

As sceptical author and paranormal debunker James Randi once said: "You can argue and you can hide, but the truth is annoyingly persistent"

Realpolitik

To understand how politics work in Thailand, it's necessary to understand a bit about the history - the real history - of certain events and historical influences that shaped the formation of Thai society today. Such a task is beyond me right now but there are minds greater than mine that can reveal at least some of the picture.


There's a book available free on the net I would recommend to anyone interested in politics. I don't agree with everything the author says, but it makes a great and revealing read.

Giles Unpagkorn is a professor in the Political Science Faculty at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand's most prestigious educational institution. The book is entitled "A coup for the rich?" and has been pulled from the shelves in stores after it was noticed the book contained a reference to another publication that is censored in Thailand. However, I personally am amazed that the book made it to the shelves in the first place. If it were in Thai instead of English, I'm sure it would not have made print.

Giles clearly is a left winger, just how left is unclear and since left wing connections are viewed highly unfavourably in Thailand (for obvious reasons) some allegiances are best unsaid (Incidentally, an article by a different author called "An internal history of the Communist Party of Thailand" is also available on line and is a good historical read). To appreciate just how unconventional and unorthodox Giles' outspokenness and choice of critical targets are , one must understand the level of influence and prestige of the King of Thailand and his palace. Whilst it is obvious that the vast majority of Thais love their king, this is not due to His Majesty's actions alone. The palace is heavily promoted in Thai society and the royal family command great respect from all areas. As a constitutional monarchy, it varies greatly from England where our head of state makes only rare appearances. The Queen of England is not considered to have any influence over politics or military.

Of course, when some institutions are sacred, there is always the possibility that major historical events can be misunderstood or reported to how one wishes things to be seen from a certain angle.

I know I'm talking cryptically, I hope people will understand why.

Unpakorn's book is so remarkable, it displays a full understanding of historical events and institutions and express opinions on them with a free and critical mind. That might seem 'par for the course' for any western academic, but from a country with Lese Majeste laws and a developing democracy, it is rare , insightful, educational and revealing.

If anyone is interested in Thai politics and wants to read a debatable but frank and honest work, then go on down to Google, type in the name of the book and follow the first link. A book (containing the word "smiles" in its title) referred to several times by Giles in his publication is also worth a read.


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A journalist friend and I are hopeful of getting some interviews with prominent figures on the southern Thailand conflict soon. I also plan to contact Mr Unpakorn and ask him a few questions and express my disagreement with him on the root causes of the southern violence. I'll post my mail and any response - if he so permits - right here.

Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute

Loughborough University to open Sports Technology Institute@pocket-lintIndustrial collaborators include adidas, Callaway Golf, Canterbury of New Zealand, Head, New Balance, Nike, Reebok, Sports World International (Dunlop Slazenger) and Umbro. Recent high profile projects include partnering adidas in the development and validation of their revolutionary 2006 World Cup football; development of

Farang Kii Nok!!!!!!

When you hear and comprehend these words as they ring in your ears, you can bask in the glory of an achieved milestone. You are no longer a tourist.

Before I explain what the backhanded compliment or insult actually means, let’s examine each word.

“Farang” is actually pronounced “falang”. Thais will tell you it simply means “foreigner”. That’s not the whole picture though, there is actually another word in the Thai dictionary describing anyone of a differing nationality. What the expression “farang” means is a white skinned foreigner. A person of Japanese or Indian appearance is unlikely to be slapped with the same label. So in occidental psyche, the term is discriminatory. In Thai psyche – which is what matters – it’s another case of 'say what you see'. The connotations of racism are not the same here.


Ex-pats will all happily tell you the etymology of the word "farang" – it shows how smart they are, you see? – but the reality is that so many theories exist, nobody knows for sure. The most credible sounding theories I’ve heard are that the term is etymologized from “farangseht”, meaning “French” from the times of French colonialism around, and trade opening within, Siam. The other theory suggests it stems from the derogatory term “barbarian” , which is an old Asian label for us white folk.


“Kii” is a word that – as best as I can gauge – is midway between “poo” and “sh*t” for offensiveness and has the same meaning.

“Nok” means “bird”.

So if you are Caucasian and you fit the criteria I am about to elucidate on, you are a “bird poo foreigner”.

Come again? I am a what?

Nobody seems to know exactly why the Thais choose to give us such a dubious compliment. Again theories run amok and the best one I’ve heard is the idea that when bird’s "poo" hits the hot ground in Bangkok, it dries on and sticks. You see, a "farang kii nok" in its politest terms is a farang who’s been around so long, he or she (I’ll say “he” from now on, since the vast majority of ex pats are males, now why could that be, hmmmm?) knows his way around. He can understand some Thai, he won’t let the taxi driver circumambulate ten times around the hotel street and he knows that the fried rice should be fifty bhat, not two hundred.


In other words, he’s no longer a tourist. Also – and bear in mind we are still using the word in its kindest terms here – Thais use the expression to test if you actually are at the kii nok stage yet. They’ll mention the very same words to or around you while looking to see if your ears pick up. The real kii nok of course could play double bluff and act dumbfounded whilst listening to hear what else is said after the "kii nok test" appeared to confirm it's safe to gossip.


However the FKN expression is similar to many of the milder swear words in English, it can be used in a friendly way to someone you know well (ala "Dave you old bast**d! How are ya?") or in a very unpleasant way. The other side to FKN terminology depicts the farang as a scrounger, a cheap skate and a reject from their own country. To my knowledge, I've only had this form of the insult hurled at me once though I suspect that the crafty Thais actually have an underling of this meaning every time they utter the words.

The incident in question occurred in my old village. My son was just one month old and needed a lot of sleep. A group of kids insisted on "playing" directly outside my front door from school close time to ten PM every day. "Playing" involved yelling at full volume. Imagine coming home from work each day and listening to a fat kid bawling non stop right outside your front door for six hours. They had been moved there because their own parents didn't want the noise outside their house. Most of them were just normal kids but a couple of the older boys were particularly unpleasant in their words and behaviour (sitting on our car and kicking footballs against it, throwing their rubbish on our garden and even graffiti. Hardly Hitler Youth but still not so nice). After several polite requests were ignored, I asked one boy to stop sitting on my garden door. He ignored me, I told him again in firmer Thai and received the same zero response. I kicked the gate and he left. The next day as I left home I heard a deafening bellow of "FARANG KII NOK!!!" that was so loud a couple of people came out of their houses and one guy, to his credit, reprimanded the foul mouthed kid. Whilst not bothered by the insult itself - I am fortunate enough to earn more than triple the average wage in Bangkok - I was taken aback by the sheer racism and malice of the action.

Similar expressions exist in Thai for other farang behaviour. "Farang kii bon" is "moaning sh*t farang" a title well deserved by many , "Farang kii neow" is "sticky sh*t farang" i.e. a cheap person and so on. However these other expressions can also be used on locals, the "kii nok" is reserved for foreigners only.

Really, the whole "kii nok" thing doesn't cause too much concern. Newcomers still in dreamland - even those who speak Thai - are blissfully unaware and those in the know are too far indoctrinated to be sensitive to it. Many farang use the tag in the same way NWA used the "n" word, they use it on themselves lightheartedly to diminish the offensiveness. "Shall we get a taxi to the club?" "No, let's kii nok it and take the bus".

As with so many things in life, familiarity with Thai culture can take away some of its magic, yet I personally take solace in the knowledge that if the worst thing that happens is that people call me barbarian bird poo in secret, I can live with it.

After all, in the west we say that if a bird defecates on you, you're about to come into some money. There must be a link somewhere........

Meds meds meds

For many, medical care in Thailand never stretches further than the drug store in Patpong, which must be the only store to proudly display its range of condoms in the window. But bear in mind that illness can strike at any time....

Let's cover the good stuff first. Thailand has a wide range of excellent private and international hospitals. The buildings and equipment are far better than your average English state hospital. The cost is usually great value and well covered by most insurance policies. Doctors are often educated abroad and speak good English.


However, as I type this it's 2330 and my son has finally come down from his drugged high. He overdosed heavily. For the last two hours he's been zipping around the bedroom in a frenzy, while I tried and failed to calm him. He won't be going for counselling however, my son is only sixteen months old and his drug was supplied by local doctors.

I defy anyone, anywhere within Thailand to visit a doctor and come away without at least two forms of medication. Go ahead, try it. Visit any random medical centre and tell them you had a slightly runny nose a couple of days ago. See what happens.

Thais love their medication and in all my time here, I have never known anyone to come out of a clinic or hospital without three types of medicine. There seems to be a two fold reason for this. First, it's an all over Asian culture (right Bri?) that the second you feel unwell, you throw drugs down yourself. After all, drugs make you better so why not take plenty, just to be sure? The other reason is one that is subliminally accepted but not widely discussed in Thailand: the doctors and hospitals get kickbacks.



Thailand has only a minimal healthcare system built into its infrastructure. Staff salaries , standards and medication are monitored only by a very inefficient and anachronistic system. When you pay to see a doctor here, you pay not a set charge but a charge fixed by the age, rank and experience of your doctor. A GP of fifty years of age would command a far higher fee than a newly qualified twenty five year old. However, even the steeper fees are actually very reasonable, it's not where the money is made.

The real windfalls for these institutions - be they government or private - comes from the meds. Its a terribly kept secret that pharmaceutical companies pay monster kickbacks to medical centres, and that little line can only be kept going if GPs are errr.....'liberal' with their prescriptions. Have a cold? Take this bottle for your stuffy nose, this liquid for your cough , etc. Bad stomach? Take this stuff for the stomach pain, these tablets to stop the runs, this antibiotic to kill the virus, this orange drink to replace your salts, etc.

What's more, the charge for these medicines is usually four to ten times the cost for the exact same product from the pharmacy across the street.

One of the most prevalent areas of this practise is in the paediatric section. After all,what parent wouldn't be relieved to hear the doc say: "Just take these four types of medicine home and your precious little one will be fine"? Not a bad little sales pitch is it?


I may sound horribly cynical, but there's nothing here that isn't solid fact. Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of doctors in Thailand are excellent. I must also note the doctors will usually prescribe the right kind of medicine so you will get better. There are exceptions though, I know first hand cases of overzealous hospitals and pharmacists giving antibiotics for colds and sore throats. Even a dunce like me knows that ABs don't work for them.

If you're single, the above shouldn't be too much of a problem. The charge is still relatively cheap, especially if you're only on holiday.When I was single, I used to politely but firmly decline every prescription I didn't need. All the creams, salt drinks and other nonsense I refused and if I was given a month's worth of meds for a cold, I'd just take one week's worth and visit the pharmacy with the box if I needed more later.

A friend of mine - new to Thailand - fractured his arm playing football. He was delighted with how well the hospital treated him and bandaged him. However, when sent to the hospital desk he was parented with a bag full of creams, tablets and other goods he had no wish for that more than doubled his bill! He simply refused the extra meds and his bill was cut by more than half!

However the problem has become more serious and difficult to tackle since I wed and became a father. My lovely son has been ill a few times, and on one occasion a doctor prescribed a whopping eight forms of medication for my boy's stomach bug. I reacted angrily, telling the doctor I was well aware that too much medicine is damaging to anyone and asked if he would give so much to his own child. Justified as I may have been, it caused problems for my wife. In Thai culture it's a big loss of face to disagree with a doctor and even more to dispute what medicines you are given. Embarrassment and annoyance reigned on both sides.



So while it still makes me unhappy, I've given up trying to fight the "meds" mentality. If you have a kid, you're as likely to escape the problem as you are to escape taxes , as likely to overcome the problem as you are to overcome death.

It's also worth noting once again that local clincs are just as helpful as hospitals for minor ailments. You'll still get the same volume of medication, but the charge will be lower.


So as my beloved boy recovers from bronchitis, we have to deal with the drug highs caused by his three types of medicine that are al rich in sugar and glucose causing him to hit the roof for hours each day. As long as he recovers, I can't complain.

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Potshot updates:

I have found no other riders of the lesbian bus.

The Thailand and Singapore spat seems to have died down though no formal apology or settlement has been mad eon either side. With the upcoming trial of Kurb Kalew a Singaporean company accused of being an illegal nominee for ex PM Thaksin - the sparks could fly again.

The airport investigations are ongoing but no progress seems to be coming through.

A colleague of mine is journalist and is due to be given her journalists licence soon. We've set up a contact list and plan to work on a book or website concerning the southern troubles. The plan is to interview with activist groups and leaders from the Buddhist and Islamic community. It will require trips the deep south and a little danger therewith, but it will be worthwhile. Stay tuned!

Massacre at Yala

Two days ago a van full of people were killed in the south. The van was acting as a bus and was chosen at random. The aggressors put a tree trunk across the road, as the van tried to U -turn the attackers came out with machine guns and killed them all bar one who escaped seriously injured.


The government did little except to confirm that it will continue its peaceful policy but will also impose a curfew in the area.

Something has snapped though. In several provinces, peaceful demonstrations against the attack took place with some demanding that the government take stronger action against these people. Patience is beginning to reach breaking point and this does not bode well.

Surayud's problem - apart from the aging and inept government surrounding him - is that like troops in Iraq, he is up against a cowardly enemy he can't see. How can he use peaceful means with an invisible opponent? I'm also predicting right here that villagers will grow antagonised by a curfew and quite possibly they will be manipulated to use this as a reason for further skirmishes with authorities.

I'm stepping things up in this area. Like most Thais, I'm tired of seeing innocents slaughtered every day. The greatest excuse apologists make for them is that they are a corrupted few or they are fighting for restoration of historical justice.

Both arguments are starting to display their hollowness. First, the latest Muslim militant tactic has been to send hundreds of woman and children to protest for the release of any captured militants. At least one hundred woman and children for each protest! The gang that beat poor teacher Juling Kamphongmoon into a coma numbered at least one hundred. (I repeatedly mention this assault because its sheer brutality and evilness sums up the situation in the south so accurately.) Nearly every activity in the south smacks of gangs that number well above "a corrupted few".

As for historical injustice, that may be so but somehow I don't see justice in the eyes of men who shoot teachers in class, behead rubber farmers, behead a man in front of his nineteen year old daughter, kill a man leaving a note that reads: "You arrest innocent people so we murder one in revenge" or walk out and kill a van load of people. Do you?

Unlike many, I'm choosing to educate myself. I've nearly finished my study of the Islamic scriptures and what I have learned has changed my perception of the world. I'm planning to visit local mosques and discuss the situation with scholars and ask for their insight into problems that affect the entire world.


I have several questions I will be looking to ask from connected and knowledgeable people. I believe I have answers to some of them already but I will ask again:
(Obviously I won't go charging in with aggressive and impolite questions, but these are the ultimate answers I'm searching for)

1. Why is there not clear and public condemnation of the attacks from prominent Thai Muslims?
2. Why are villagers not turning in or exposing Muslim militants?
3. What are the motives of the attackers? Do they have full knowledge of the history of the region? How often do they study and read Islamic scriptures?
4. Why are the victims of the attacks almost exclusively Buddhists? (Its a pop fact to point out that as many Muslims have died in the area. This fact misleads, since the area is about eighty percent Muslim and the victims of specific attacks are nearly always Buddhist)
5. Most importantly, how can we stop innocents dying?

I want to go into great depth here but I will wait until I have completed further studies. I will say this much: right now, I stand alarmed, shocked and scared about this situation. We seem to be competing with people whose rule book tells them to ruthlessly murder anyone who takes land they perceive to be their own. Morality, innocence and respect for life have no part to play for them.

Feel free to challenge, debate or question me on this.

Oh by the way, another man was shot in an unprovoked attack yesterday too. Guess that was just in case they hadn't made their point by removing enough woman and children from their husband and fathers yet.



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On lighter notes:
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Last week, I got the usual bus down a well known main road to return from one of my houses to the other. I noticed that the bus actually stopped well past the bus stop and forced me to run a bit. Nothing unusual there. As I tried to pull myself on, the bus tried to speed away and lose me. gain, nothing unusual there. Then as I sat down I noticed an unusual sign on the front of the bus "Lady Bus". I looked around , no I was OK, there were plenty of guys here! No, wait a minute..........they were girls dressed as guys. The bus I was on was a lesbian bus!!!!!!! They tried to lose me most likely because they didn't have the English to explain I couldn't get on and as my keen students will recall, no Thai expects any farang to understand Thai!!!

I'm not making this up. I got on a lesbian bus. If anyone else has experienced this please let me know.


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We had a great little break in Cha-Am this week. The town is changing. With Pattaya sinking further into decadence, Cha-am is becoming more popular with "family" farangs. During the week it's easy to find a good value place near the beach. The area is cheap and the beach is OK, be prepared to fight off vendors every ten seconds though they are not too pushy.

The weekend is still the regular time spot for the Thai-Chinese invasion though.
On the way back, we got lost. We drove through minute villages and black country roads looking for Bangkok signs to no avail. No less than four times we stopped and asked for directions. Three times we were given misinformation. Thais are always keen to help their countrymen (and shotgun farangs!) but like many other nationalities, they would soon as give you false directions rather than admit they don't know!

Director of Sports Science Appointed at Irish Institute of Sport

Director of Sports Science Appointed at Irish Institute of Sport@Irish Sports CouncilSean Kelly, Executive Chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport, announced today (February 1, 2007) that Professor Greg Whyte has been appointed Director of Sports Science at the Institute.Professor Whyte, one of four key appointments to be made at the Irish Institute of Sport, will be responsible for coordinating